As Canada approaches 100 days to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup, its men’s team emerged from last weekend with lingering injury issues and recovery timelines that might hamper Jesse Marsch’s preparations ahead of the next international window at the end of March.
At first glance, the main concern following the weekend was Alphonso Davies. Canada’s captain left Bayern Munich’s Saturday win over Eintracht Frankfurt after sustaining what sources described to TSN as a “small hamstring tear” that may only sideline Davies for a few weeks.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old left back appeared emotional as he left the field Saturday, and for good reason: His latest injury comes eight games after his return from 10 months of ACL recovery.
But there’s also recent precedent on the Canadian team for that string of injuries.
Canadian midfielder Liam Millar came back from his own ACL recovery late last September and played five games before a hamstring issue sidelined him for a month. Millar has made 14 consecutive appearances for Hull City since returning a second time in November.
The bigger concern right now is the health of forward Promise David.
The 24-year-old was stretchered off the field in the second half of Union Saint-Gilloise’s win over Royal Antwerp Saturday after he collided awkwardly with an Antwerp player.
Sources told TSN Sunday David has a suspected thigh muscle issue that will receive further evaluation early this week. That assessment will be key because there are just 16 weeks before Canada’s World Cup opener in Toronto on June 12.
Recovery time should not be a concern if David’s muscle issue is minor. But if the forward has a serious tear, his World Cup chances are in serious trouble. That would be a blow to Canada’s attack.
David is currently tied for second in the Belgian League scoring with nine goals and has a total of 15 goals in 37 matches across all competitions. Powered by David’s goals, Union Saint-Gilloise sit first in the league and recently advanced to the Belgium Cup final.
David’s playing time has been increasing since mid-December. Before the weekend, he was regularly finishing a full 90 minutes as the 6-foot-5 striker was attempting to convince Marsch he could be relied on to be Jonathan David’s starting striker partner, not just a goal-poaching substitute.
If David’s World Cup is in jeopardy, it would turn attention to Canada’s other attacking options, specifically Theo Bair, Daniel Jebbison, Cyle Larin, and Tani Oluwaseyi, as well as the potential surrounding new Canadian recruit Marcelo Flores.
Canada may have enough attacking pieces to deal with David’s absence, but if the health of Marsch’s first-choice defence doesn’t improve he will have decisions to make in several key positions.
Davies aside, starting centre backs Moise Bombito (broken leg), Derek Cornelius (hamstring) and starting right back Alistair Johnston (hamstring) don’t have firm return dates set yet.
TSN has learned that Bombito’s timeline sets him up, right now, for a return sometime in mid-March.
Cornelius recently returned to Rangers training, and will have to capitalize on whatever playing opportunity he gets as Rangers, Celtic, and league leaders Hearts are locked in the most competitive battle for the Scottish title in nearly four decades.
Celtic could use a defensive workhorse like Johnston right now, but the 27-year-old’s ongoing hamstring recovery is now the longest layoff of his professional career.
Johnston played just two Scottish league games in August before injuring his hamstring. He attempted a return in mid-October, but lasted just 26 minutes in a Europa League game.
Come the March window, it will be a full year since Canada’s starting defence played together in the Concacaf Nations League finals.
The four months between late February and mid-June does afford the individual members of Canada’s defence time to find their form with their respective clubs.
But with just four international friendlies remaining between late March and the beginning of June, the challenge now for Marsch will be giving those players time to play together before Canada begins its home World Cup campaign on June 12.
